Friday, February 18, 2011

Oregon Air National Guard Brig. Gen. Steven Gregg, Oregon Air National Guard Commander, (center), and Col. Michael Stencel, 142nd Fighter Wing Commander, (left), greet President Barack Obama, as he arrives at the Portland Air Guard Base, in Portland, Ore., Feb. 18. Before boarding Marine One, Obama paused to shake hands with members of the 142nd Fighter Wing who were on hand to welcome the President to Oregon. The President headed to Intel Corporation in Hillsboro to discuss manufacturing for science and technology with employees and community leaders. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. John Hughel, 142nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office).

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Staff Sgt. Jarrod Johnson of the 142nd Security Forces Squadron, (center), runs out of the Columbia River following one of his 24 "plunges" into the river over a 24-hour period, during the Polar Plunge, Feb. 12. The event is a fundraiser for Special Olympics.

Johnson, who personally raised over $4,400 for the event, is one of 21 "Super Plungers" who committed to jumping into the frigid waters of the Columbia 24 times over 24 hours. (Photo courtesy of Oregon Air National Guard Public Affairs Office).

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Three Soldiers from the Oregon Army National Guard's 3670th Maintenance Company based at Camp Withycombe pose with the official party following their mobilization ceremony at Governor John Kitzhaber's ceremonial office at the State Capitol in Salem, Ore., Feb. 9. From left to right are: Maj. Gen. Raymond F. Rees, The Adjutant General, Oregon; Spc. Michael Resner, from Salem; Sgt. Shawn Flynn, from McMinnville, Ore.; Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber; Staff Sgt. Stephen Nierengarten, from Portland, Ore.; Lt. Col. Sean T. McGann, Commander, 821 Troop Command Battalion. Resner, Flynn and Nierengarten will deploy to Iraq in support of Operation New Dawn. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Nick Choy, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs Office).

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Four of the Oregon Soldiers featured in the independent documentary film, Shepherds of Helmand, conduct a question and answer forum following the premier of the film at the Hollywood Theater in Portland, Ore., Feb. 3. Hundreds turned out for the screening of the 90-minute film, which featured footage captured by the Soldiers using hand-held video cameras during their 2008 deployment to Afghanistan to train members of the Afghan National Army. From left to right are: Mark Browning, Jerry Glessman, David Hagen and Paul Dyer. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Nick Choy, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs Office).

Approximately 175 Soldiers from throughout Oregon will deploy to Afghanistan supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. The unit's primary role will be to act as command and control while providing support for Task Force Gridley.

The battalion will include approximately 850 Soldiers from other units in California, Connecticut, Georgia, Michigan, Mississippi, and Nebraska.

TF Gridley's mission will be to support construction missions in an area roughly the size of Oregon. They will first complete pre-deployment training at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin as part of the 400 day mobilization.